“How’s your church doing?”

When I hear this question, I know what’s being asked.

• How many people showed up on Sunday?
• What is the giving like?
• What percentage of your congregation is serving at the church?
• What kind of “Big Days” did you pull off?

As of recently, I’ve been wanting to answer that question like this:

“Well, the Church that I am a part of is doing great!  In fact, it is doing better than ever because God said that He will build His church.  Now are you asking about how THE church is doing, or are you asking how our people are doing?  If that’s the case, then I would say that they are

Broken

Unemployed

Recently Divorced

Hurting

BUT

Totally depending on Jesus and the expression of him through the local fellowship of believers that I am a part of.

Continually moving towards maturity in their love for God and their obedience to loving others without agenda.

So I guess we’re doing pretty good.

Don’t ask me how my church is doing.  That’s easy to answer.

Ask me how the people are doing.  That’s a messier story, but it’s authentic, it’s relational, and can be life-changing.